Niva say never... as little known best seller reaches 40 – by Dave Moss This story begins on April 5th 1977, when LHD Russian market sales of what was known there as the VAZ 2121 began. Right hand drive examples were badged "Lada Niva", with a list price just over £5000, at their 1980 British International Motor Show launch, where they were heavily overshadowed by the introduction of BL's Austin … [Read more...]
Jeep Wrangler Night Eagle – Road Test
A REVIEW OF THE LATEST JEEP WRANGLER 4-DOOR NIGHT EAGLE… …By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Its big, its brash, its still the iconic all-American 4WD SUV but the modern Jeep brand is owned by Chrysler and they are part of the Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles conglomerate which in turn is now in partnership with the PSA Group of brands. Following the recent merger the FCA and PSA groups … [Read more...]
Jeep Wrangler – Road Test
Iconic Jeep Wrangler – Sahara Unlimited 4-door petrol model. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). (Photographs by Chrysler and, where individually credited, by Robin). Respect is earned not awarded in the motor industry, and one of the most influential vehicle brands is Jeep, now on the eve of celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2021. Think about that for a minute; it was born … [Read more...]
Latest Jeep Renegade PHEV – First Impressions
New Jeep Renegade 4xe news and first drive views… By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Jeep has turned a corner with its new PHEV plug-in hybrid electric Renegade. Without compromising its famous off-road abilities the Renegade 4xe adds emission lowering and power enhancing electric drive and it’s the first electrified Jeep to be sold in Britain. It uses the familiar … [Read more...]
Here comes the INEOS Grenadier 4×4 – designed for hard work
This is the new INEOS Grenadier... ...writes Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). The British-designed, German engineered and powered heavy duty 4x4 will go into production in Wales at the end of 2021 as part of a £600 Million investment directed by one of the richest men in Britain, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Heavily influenced by the previous Land Rover Defender loved by INEOS Group boss … [Read more...]
Suzuki Jimny – Road Test
THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY SUZUKI JIMNY SZ5 ALLGRIP... ...Test-driven by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Every manufacturer loves to cram features into their model to make as much money as possible, but the Suzuki Jimny has something few ever include, a free smile. The standard-spec smile is something so many modern cars lack but the simple Suzuki has it in spades. And then … [Read more...]
On Safari in a Unimog – Motoring For Fun
Rachel Henson describes an exhilarating adventure on the wild, beautiful Yorkshire coast – in search of history and wildlife, and made possible by a classic vehicle... (All words and photographs by Rachel). Wind beat at the drenched tarpaulin, making it hard to hear our guide. It was tied tightly to the sides of the Unimog due to wet and blustery weather. We were on a two-hour long safari at … [Read more...]
Latest Jeep Grand Cherokee – Road Test
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE - A LEGEND IN ITS OWN LIFETIME... David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) investigates this iconic American machine. The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 is a globally recognised large, five-seater, hard-core heavyweight and seriously capable off-roader with a long history and high specification. It has evolved over many years since 1993 with over five million sales, the most recent in … [Read more...]
Latest Toyota Land Cruiser – Road Test
Global 4x4 SUV workhorse updated – Toyota Land Cruiser… …tried and tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Sold in over 190 countries around the World, the latest Land Cruiser and Toyota’s all wheel drive technology has 65 years of history behind them. The hard-core Land Cruiser has a legendary reputation for toughness, reliability, durability and go-anywhere capabilities whether … [Read more...]
Fiat Panda 4×4 1.3 – Road Test
Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) assesses Fiat’s compact 4x4… Italian singers are often short in stature but big in heart and voice, just like the Fiat Panda 4x4. The cheeky all-wheel-drive car is part of a compact 12-model range sharing a five door body. It provides a choice of 900cc or 1.2 litre petrol engines along with a 1.3 diesel, in five trim levels and even offers a … [Read more...]
Suzuki ALLGRIP models – Getting to grips with them during road (and off-road) tests
Kim Henson heads off to the Welsh hills to test drive examples of vehicles equipped with Suzuki’s ALLGRIP four wheel drive system technologies, the details of which vary according to the model... (All words by Kim; photographs by Kim and – where indicated – Matt Kimberley). For many decades Suzuki has been associated with producing highly effective and very reliable four wheel drive vehicles, … [Read more...]
Latest Jeep Wrangler Road Test
Old World rugged 4x4 styling for a modern day market – the Jeep Wrangler… Road tested by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). In a world where SUVs have become more sophisticated and are generally soft off-roaders or Crossovers more used to dealing with school runs, shopping trips and family holidays than hard-core off roading, the Jeep Wrangler now stands alone in the rugged 4x4 market … [Read more...]
Skoda Superb range-topping Laurin and Klement 4×4 estate Road Test
Skoda’s Latest Superb Estate – Mostly Lives up to its Name... says David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). (Note from Kim: Recently on Wheels-Alive, Keith Ward assessed the 150 horsepower 2.0 TDi SE L Executive manual transmission front wheel drive variant; by contrast David gives his verdict on the range-topping Laurin and Klement specification 190 horsepower 2.0 TDi four wheel drive version … [Read more...]
Land Rover Discovery Sport – with Jaguar Land Rover’s own Ingenium engines.
Assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency), who also highlights the continuing good news sales success story for JLR. When the Land Rover Discovery Sport premium compact SUV with permanent four wheel drive first went on sale in the UK in January 2015, with five and seven seat options, the only downside to the vehicle was that it still continued to use the long serving 2.2 litre SD4 … [Read more...]
Fiat Panda 4×4 and Trekking
Brief drives in two new compact Fiats... by Tom Scanlan To get straight to the point, what excellent little cars! The 4x4, while aimed primarily at anyone who wants a small car, will certainly suit anyone who also needs regularly to traverse difficult terrain. Panda’s Trekking is a 2-w-d car (front-wheel-drive) that has some of the body characteristics of the 4x4, but is not a regular … [Read more...]
